FG Withdraws Treason Charge Against Minors Involved in #EndBadGovernance Protest
The Federal Government has officially dropped the treason charges previously filed against minors who participated in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests held across Nigeria. This decision was made through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who took over the case on Tuesday.
In a formal application presented to the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, moved to discontinue the case, citing legal provisions under Sections 174(1)(b) and (c) of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
The application also sought for the legal proceedings to be conducted without the minors being present in court, in line with Section 266(b) of the ACJA and Section 1 of the Child Rights Act, recognizing the need to protect minors during judicial processes. Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, along with other defense attorneys, expressed their support for the discontinuation of the case, and Justice Obiora Egwuatu subsequently struck out the charges.
Background to the Case
The controversy began when 76 individuals, including four minors aged between 14 and 17, were charged by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for their involvement in the protests, which took place between August 1 and 10, 2024. The protests, driven by rising living costs and dissatisfaction with governance, led to widespread demonstrations across the country.
On the day of the initial court proceedings, the minors were reportedly in poor health, with some appearing malnourished and visibly ill. In fact, four of the teenagers collapsed before they could be formally arraigned in court. This alarming development led to the police removing these minors from the charge sheet, while the remaining defendants were still arraigned with strict bail conditions.
Public Outcry and Government Response
The shocking images of the minors in distress, combined with public outrage over their treatment, prompted swift action from the government. Following the public outcry, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) ordered the police to transfer the case file to his office for further review. Within 24 hours of this directive, President Bola Tinubu intervened, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the charges against the minors and ordering a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention.
This swift government action has been welcomed by many as a step toward upholding the rights of minors and ensuring that their involvement in protests is handled in a more humane and legally appropriate manner. The case highlights ongoing concerns over the treatment of young people in protests and underscores the importance of protecting children’s rights in legal proceedings.
